New Brunswick pharmacists gathered in Moncton on Saturday to celebrate those who have made outstanding contributions to their profession.
The New Brunswick Pharmacists’ Association, the Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists (NB chapter) and the New Brunswick Pharmaceutical Society honoured Ron Jackson of Fredericton with the Bowl of Hygeia at their Past President’s Awards Gala held as part of the 2014 New Brunswick Pharmacy Conference.
The Bowl of Hygeia is the most widely recognized international symbol for the pharmacy profession and is considered one of the profession’s most prestigious awards. This award recognizes pharmacists who make outstanding contributions to their profession and to their communities.
Ron Jackson has been helping patients and contributing to his community for nearly 30 years. A native of Glace Bay, Cape Breton, NS, Ron graduated from Dalhousie University College of Pharmacy in 1985. He moved to Dalhousie, NB the following year to become the associate owner of the local Shoppers Drug Mart. He served on the Board of Directors of the Dalhousie area’s Business Improvement Area Corporation (BIAC) for 20 years, including a term as President. Ron also was involved as a Board Member and Chair of Choices Group home, a facility providing a temporary home and support for youth in need. A big supporter of sport, Ron sponsored many local teams and devoted his time to coaching.
Ron has contributed immensely to building New Brunswick’s pharmacy profession by serving on a variety of committees within Shoppers Drug Mart, the NB Pharmaceutical Society and the New Brunswick Pharmacists’ Association. A longtime board member of the NBPA, Ron served as president from 2006-08 and was a strong advocate for the Pharmacy Act change in 2008 that paved the way for pharmacist prescribing and immunizing. Ron enthusiastically embraced these new scopes of practice in his own pharmacy.
Ron has acted as a pharmacy student preceptor on many occasions and is always open to mentoring young people interested in pursuing pharmacy as a profession. In 2008, Ron relocated to Fredericton, where he operates the Shoppers Drug Mart at the Regent St. Medical Clinic as well as the location in Woodstock. He is currently serving as a member of the Implementation Advisory Committee for the new NB Drug Plan. He was recently named Shoppers Drug Mart, Associate of the Year for Atlantic Canada, 2014. Ron and his wife Jacquie, also a pharmacist, are the proud parents of Brett, also a pharmacist, and Sarah.
“New Brunswick pharmacists are committed to their patients, their communities and their profession. It’s important that we recognize those who have made extraordinary contributions to patient care and to evolving the practise of pharmacy,” says Alistair Bursey, President of the New Brunswick Pharmacists’ Association. “We are incredibly proud of the work done by our award winners, who range from long-time community volunteers, to lifelong learners to young professionals who are already enhancing our profession.”
Approximately 150 New Brunswick pharmacists attended the annual conference held over the weekend at the Delta Beausejour in Moncton. The conference included the annual general meetings of the New Brunswick Pharmacists’ Association, New Brunswick Pharmaceutical Society and the Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists (NB chapter) as well as professional development sessions and a keynote address by Jake Reid, Director, Government Relations & Advocacy (Atlantic Canada) for the Canadian Diabetes Association.